Section 4A. The director, his assistants, an environmental police officer or deputy environmental police officer or a member of the state police may conduct an administrative inspection in accordance with the provisions of this section of commercial fishing vessels and wholesale and retail fish businesses commercially licensed pursuant to this chapter.

Administrative inspections of a commercial fishing vessel may extend only to the fishing gear, nets, fish on board and the fish holds and only during times in which the commercial fishing vessel is conducting fishing operations, landing fish on board the vessel or off-loading at any pier or wharf.

Administrative inspections of a wholesale or retail fish business may extend only to the fish maintained or processed on the premises, to tanks, refrigerators, freezers, walk-in fish storage closets or other places where fish may reasonably be stored and only during times in which the business is open to the public.

Any fishing gear, nets, or fish found in violation of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the director or the commissioner of the department of public health may be seized and forfeited to the Commonwealth in accordance with chapter two hundred and fifty-seven.